The Unveiling: The Untold Story of Back to the Future Manga!

Highlights

Back to the Future manga adaptation was unfortunately canceled due to undisclosed rights issues, despite being overseen by original producer Bob Gale.

The cancelation may have been due to concerns about the actors' likeness rights, particularly Crispin Glover, who has had previous legal problems.

Additionally, disagreements regarding publishing and distribution may have contributed to the cancelation. It is unfortunate that we will not be able to see the completed project, but Yusuke Murata has shared some finished pages for fans to enjoy.

Have you seen any of the spin-off projects that originated from the Back to the Future franchise? Perhaps you're familiar with the ride at Universal Studios Hollywood or the recent Broadway production. What about the manga adaptation? Well, if you claim to have read it, you're definitely not being truthful. The Back to the Future manga was an exciting endeavor that unfortunately never saw the light of day. It would have not only introduced the story to a new generation of fans but also explored untold tales from the movies. With original producer Bob Gale at the helm, everything seemed promising. So, what led to the heartbreaking cancellation of the Back to the Future manga? Let's delve into the unfortunate story.

What is Back to the Future?

Back to the Future, a popular science fiction film released in 1985, needs little introduction. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg, the story centers around Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), a teenager who unintentionally travels back in time from 1985 to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean car created by his quirky scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd).

During his time in 1955, Marty accidentally disrupts his parents' encounter and must ensure their love blossoms to avoid altering history and erasing his own existence. With 4 Academy Award nominations, Back to the Future is widely regarded as one of the finest science fiction comedies in history. It spawned two sequels, an animated TV series, a video game, and the recent addition of a Broadway musical.

The franchise's enduring strength is widely recognized, despite the absence of any new films for more than three decades. This remarkable standing is partially attributed to producer Bob Gale, who may be reluctant to produce new films in the series, but remains open to expanding the franchise beyond the realm of cinema. Such expansion notably encompasses an upcoming manga adaptation by Hiro Mashima.

Who is Yusuke Murata?

Yusuke Murata is a highly acclaimed manga artist from Japan who is widely recognized for his extraordinary talent in illustration and meticulous artwork. He skyrocketed to fame for his remarkable adaptation of the manga series One Punch Man, which is a reinterpretation of the original webcomic crafted by the artist ONE. Since 2012, Murata's captivating version of One Punch Man has been serialized in Weekly Young Jump, playing a pivotal role in expanding the series' global appeal due to his incredibly intricate and dynamic artistry.

Before One Punch Man, Murata gained recognition for his contribution to Eyeshield 21, a manga centered around American football written by Riichiro Inagaki. This manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan (published by Viz Media in America) and played a crucial role in establishing Murata's reputation as an exceptional manga artist. Throughout his career, Murata has been widely acclaimed for his meticulous artwork, dynamic action sequences, and captivating character designs. It is this remarkable reputation that led the creators of Back to the Future to approach him for a potential manga adaptation.

What Happened to the Back to the Future Manga?

When the series was discontinued nearly three years ago, Murata merely mentioned that the manga was halted due to "rights issues." The details regarding these rights issues were never revealed. While it is possible that they were unable to reach an agreement with Universal (as they have encountered similar obstacles recently), the involvement of Bob Gale as the project's overseer and the creation of several pages of artwork indicate that the project had progressed significantly.

Trust us: If you've made it this far in development, it means you believe you have a deal. However, a more plausible explanation could be that although the characters belong to Universal, Spielberg, Zemeckis, and Gale, the actors' likenesses still belong to the actors themselves. This would require a payout for the project, payment of royalties, or both.

Now, we are entering the realm of speculation (so please don't take this as fact), but if this was indeed the issue, it is unlikely that Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, or Lea Thompson posed a problem, considering their frequent participation in conventions and occasional cameos as the characters themselves. The same can be said for Thomas F. Wilson, who has a reputation in Hollywood for being genuinely kind and has never refused a fan a picture or autograph, to our knowledge.

Crispin Glover (George McFly) is notoriously known for his previous legal battles over likeness rights. One such case involved his objection to the use of his footage from the first film without his consent or payment. Additionally, Glover has a reputation for being challenging to collaborate with in the Hollywood industry. While it cannot be definitively confirmed, it wouldn't be surprising if his involvement created legal obstacles that hindered the completion of the final project.

Alternatively, it is possible that there were simple disagreements regarding the book's publisher and global distribution. These kinds of situations are not uncommon, as evident from Disney's enduring partnership with Tokyopop to avoid similar issues. It is unfortunate that we won't have the opportunity to see the completed project, but thankfully, Murata generously shared some of the finished pages, allowing us to imagine what it could have been like.

Back to The Future is available to stream on Peacock.